Vietnam will commence a trial period of issuing e-visas to foreign visitors from January 2017 as a measure to boost the tourism industry, according to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).

The investigative branch of the Vietnamese police ministry suggested an indictment be issued for OceanBank ex-chairman Ha Van Tham for his role in issuing the illegally-granted massive loan the credit institution now risks losing.

Gamers in Japan, home of Nintendo's Pokemon, are still impatiently awaiting the launch of the smash-hit Pokemon GO game but the government is already preparing for an invasion of little cartoon monsters, issuing a safety warning.

The European Central Bank on Wednesday said it would stop producing and issuing €500 banknotes, amid fears that the violet-coloured bills were favoured by criminals for money laundering and even terrorist financing.